Pantry's Summer Meal Campaign To Aid Kids In 'Hungriest Time Of Year'

WOODRIDGE, IL — With school out for summer vacation, West Suburban Community Pantry (WSCP) is doing its part to provide food for local children who rely on school lunches. The pantry's Summer Meal Campaign will raise money to help buy groceries and provide meals to area families in need.

“Summer should be a time of growth and adventure, but for too many children it is the hungriest time of year,” WSCP CEO Maeven Sipes said in a news release.

Sipes added, “In our community, 1 in 4 children rely on free or reduced school meals. Many count on school to provide both breakfast and lunch. Some may even get backpacks of food for weekend meals. When school cafeterias close for the summer, children and their parents don’t know where those meals will come from.”

According to WSCP, rising food costs and looming budget cuts for assistance programs are making it even more difficult for families to provide meals for their children. They report that WSCP has seen a 20 percent increase in visits over the past year.

Sipes said, "The Summer Meals Campaign, and the generous donors who support it will help children enjoy a summer break filled with the nutritious food they need to thrive and help prepare the Pantry to serve increased demand in the coming months.”

Residents can follow the link to contribute to WSCP's Summer Meals Campaign.